Features & Interviews

The Blacktown City Council has consistently been one of the fastest growing areas of Australia and of particular interest to the New South Wales. As one of the primary growth areas for state government in the residential and employment fields, it has also been identified as one of the major residential growth areas within the northwest growth centre. Between 2001 and 2006, the population grew by 6.47 percent. Between 2006 and 2011, population growth was measured at 10.82 percent. Both figures are significantly higher than the national average and they represent the vision of the Council for continuous growth.

Providing high standards of personalised care is something that most health care facilities aspire to but only a few truly achieve. For Grace Hospital, the commitment to surgical excellence and outstanding quality of care is second to none. The hospital was originally established in 2007 and is managed by the Norfolk Southern Cross Ltd, a unique partnership between Acurity Health Group Ltd and Southern Cross Hospitals Ltd, two major private health companies in New Zealand.

Like many other private hospitals, the Rodney Surgical Centre was originally established to serve a need within the community, a need for reliable, immediate, and easy access to surgical services. Previously, residents had to travel an hour either way to access public and private hospitals, a fact which is simply not convenient in today’s busy world. Then, in October 2009, a few local businessmen opened the centre’s doors and filled the void.

As any equestrian lover will tell you, riding horses is more than just a hobby. It is a way of life, accentuated by the strong connections that one can form with these beautiful animals. For Dannielle Appleford, owner and manager of the Warranwood Equestrian Centre, horse riding has always been a major part of life. Teaching horse riding is what she has done for most of her professional career. As such, operating her very own centre was always in the cards for Dannielle.

Providing support for those in need is an increasingly essential need. As is the case with many other countries throughout the world, disadvantage in Australia continues to rise. Each year, for instance, 20 percent of Australians will experience some sort of mental illness. In 2010, it was estimated that 12.5 percent of Australians lived below the poverty line. Though solving those issues at their core should be a priority, supporting people in their time of need is also vital. Thankfully, organisations like Connections UnitingCare are there to support their respective communities.

The beauty industry in Australia continues to grow over the years as both beauticians and their clients readily adopt the latest methods and techniques of the trade. Such trends are supported and influenced by a number of lifestyle changes, either directly or indirectly. For instance, social media is extremely influential in the industry as people wish to look better than ever. One of the more advanced beautification techniques that has grown over the last couple of decades is cosmetic tattooing. Lisa Millington has been involved in the industry for more than 13 years and has witnessed all the changes and evolutions of cosmetic tattooing firsthand.

Going into business for yourself is a bold move for most people. Those who have no previous experience in business ownership often find it hard to make the transition from being employees to running their very own company, enterprise, or service. For Sandra Toia-Wilson and her husband Paul Wilson, the transition almost fell into their laps. Today, they maintain a successful company called Ratclifff Mathews Real Estate but that was not always part of the couple’s plans.

Alternatives to Western medicinal practices have become increasingly popular in countries like Australia in the past couple of decades. Like every association reports, clinics and practitioners of alternative medicine are overwhelmingly positive in their growth and the general public is now far more accepting of such courses of treatment. A testament to this example is Dr. Saji George, an Ayurvedic Practitioner who has developed one of the most reputable alternative health clinics in Melbourne.

Handling the supply chain of any company, big or small, is a very challenging task. Most companies rely on others for all of their transport, supply chain, and logistics needs; although finding a reliable partner is not always easy. The Bulk Group, a privately owned family business, have been making a name for themselves over the past five years as one of the only supply chain solutions that can deal with consignments of any size or difficulty. Slowly but surely, the brand has become a trusted name in the business world of Australia in both domestic transports, 3PL warehousing and international imports and exports.

Originally established in 1957, Speedy Wheels has been serving the tyre and wheel industry of Australia in various capacities for a very long time. At the very beginning, the company was a one-man operation, founded and run by Mr. Keith Tonkin. The company, which was known as Speedy Wheel Repairs at the time, got its name from the 24-hour turnaround, steel wheel repair service it provided. Mr. Tonkin operated out of an old disused dairy shed in the Sydney suburb of Brighton and he continued to provide his repair services locally on his own for several years. Then, in 1964, the business started to grow and a second employee joined the work roster and in 1965, a third employee – Mr. Geoff Medbury, joined the company and would go on to be the Company’s longest serving employee.